GE to shut down by 4Q 2009

Not exactly “Mitchell News”, but the Bloomington G.E. plant will be shut down by the fourth quarter of 2009. I know there’s at least a few folks who live in Mitchell that still work there. Fortunately, they estimate that roughly 60% of the employees that remain will be eligible for retirement.

It should also be known that those jobs are now in Mexico and the conditions these Mexicans are working under are horrendous (longer hours than Americans worked, no benefits, unsafe conditions...basically a sweatshop) for dirt poor pay. Everyone blames foreigners, but they are just trying to survive just like we are...and in this case nobody is the winner here.

My Mom, Grandma, Aunt, Uncle, Great Aunt, and a few cousins all were laid off there over the past few years. Terrible situation...I actually know some people that went from GE to Dana after being laid off and then that plant closed too. Rough times where even an education means nothing.